Frida To Attend 700th Anniversary For Childhood Town Of Torshälla

Frida To Attend Town's 700 Year Anniversary Celebrations

Anni-Frid to Torshälla August 19th 

Saturday, 19 August, the third call is held in the series Alar talks with. Alar Kuutmann meets the singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad and musician Gunnar Sandevärn.
A discussion with Frida and Gunnar Sandevärn, hosted by Alar Kuutmann will take place in Torshälla on August 19 at 4 PM. The one hour long event with free admission will be an open air stage event in the park Krusgårdsparken. After the discussion Frida will accept the Eskilstuna city's music prize that she already got in 2014, but was unable to collect back then.

https://www.facebook.com/alar.kuutmann

Anni-Frid Lyngstad was born in Norway but moved as a little girl to Torshälla where she grew up with her grandmother. Anni-Frid was already singing as a child, and as a thirteen-year-old she began to tour Evald Eks orchestra. When she was 15, she started with Bengt Sandlund's big band. There she met her prospective husband, Ragnar Fredriksson, who played trombone but also pianist Gunnar Sandevärn. In 1964 and 1966, Anni-Frid toured as a vocalist together with Gunnar Sandevärn's trio. Gunnar Sandevärn then got a job as an entertainer on the Norwegian American Line, and Anni-Frid formed his own orchestra Anni-Frid Four with her husband Ragnar.

Anni-Frid won a talesuit 1967, appeared in Hyland's corner and then moved to Stockholm. There she met Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Agnetha Fältskog who later formed ABBA - Sweden's largest music export throughout the ages.

During the 1970's, Gunnar Sandevärn was part of the hugely popular Ingemar Nordströms orchestra. He is also "dad" to a series of texts on the Swedish top, such as Göta channel, where do all the beautiful dreams take the road and Krylbo Central.
Now they meet again - in Torshälla - and of course there are a lot of musical memories from their common time on and off the stage.
The conversation with Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Gunnar Sandevärn will take place at the outdoor scene at Krusgårdsparken in Torshälla, Saturday 19 August at 16.00. The conversation will last for about an hour. Free entrance.
In connection with the call at Krusgårdsparken, Anni-Frid Lyngstad will also receive the Eskilstuna municipality's music prize. Anni-Frid was awarded the 2014 prize but could not attend the award ceremony.

For more information contact:
Alar Kuutmann, Project Manager and Program Manager, 070-555 29 80, alar.kuutmann@gmail.com (for general questions about the Alar talk series).

Annika Edetun Lahtinen, Anniversary Torshälla 700 years, 076-496 40 45, annika.edetun@eskilstuna.se (for questions about Torshälla 700 years and about the arrangement in general).
Görel Hanser, Mono Music, 08-555 196 08, Gorel.hanser@monomusic.se (for questions about Anni-Frid).
Anette Pallhed, Communications Manager at Culture and Recreation Administration, +46 (0) 73-950 67 94, anette.pallhed@eskilstuna.se (for questions regarding the Eskilstuna municipality's music prize).

Get to know the 700 year old town

 
Torshälla is a small town with great history. Everywhere memories and fragments of bygone times are seen, from Husberg's ancient remains to the old Kronokvarnen from 1628. The time passed has shaped and created the small town we are today - here you can read more about our history.

Became a city 1317

Although King Birger Magnusson gave Torshälla his city privileges as early as 1317, the history of the city goes further than that. The oldest parts of Torshälla church were built as early as the 12th century, and the city's name is said to be the same since the ancient times and the name Thorsharg.

Throwing and iron handling

Torshälla has a long tradition of forging and iron handling. The channel and currents created a good location for trade and industry and made Torshälla an important trading city. In 1829, Nyby Bruk, the ironworks, was founded today by Outokumpu.

The industry attracted labor

In the aftermath of World War II, Swedish industry emerged and the need for staff attracted foreign labor. Nyby Bruk was one of the companies in Eskilstuna who received foreign labor, of which the largest single group consisted of Finns.

Torshälla a cultural city

With artist names such as Allan Ebeling, Åsa Brandt and the Rolf Berg artist, Torshälla has become known as a cultural city. Even Torshälla Stenkärlsfabrik AB, founded in the early 1900s by Johannes Svensson, has made the city famous among artists. Today, Torshällen's Art Museum Ebeling Museum is a popular tourist destination with a permanent collection of works by Allan Ebeling and several temporary contemporary exhibitions.

http://torshalla700.se/frida/

 

I don't read Swedish, but I'm pretty sure they are calling Frida a Superstar in this article - and rightly so ! :D

 

 

 

http://www.ekuriren.se/nyheter/eskilstuna/

Mamma Mia! The Party - Tickets On Sale 25 August 2105 !

The tickets for MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY go on sale tomorrow (August 25th).

Read more about the party and how to buy tickets on our brand new website mammamiatheparty.com



Take part in a brand new experience.
A greek taverna. A Mediterranean menu.
ABBA’s songs and a party that never wants to end.
Welcome!

A FEW COMMON QUESTIONS

• Food is included in the ticket price.
• Age limit is 18, 13 if accompanied by an adult.
• The party will last for at least four hours.
• Your whole group will be seated together.
• The dialogue is in Swedish, with ABBA songs in English.
• Drinks are not included with ticket and can be purchased at Tyrol.
• Time of arrival varies, but can be found on your ticket.
• Tables are reserved in the order they are booked.
• Contact Tyrol for special requests regarding food.
• For larger groups, email ticket@mammamiatheparty.com.

http://mammamiatheparty.com/#mammamia

Sleep Like A Popstar In The ABBA Gold Room !

STAY IN DUVEMÅLA OR SLEEP LIKE A POP STAR IN THE ABBA GOLD ROOM – Pop House Hotel is proud to present new themed hotel rooms linked to Swedish music!

"What made ABBA so successful? Björn: Hard work and two beautiful voices!"
 
Pop House Hotel is located in the same building as ABBA The Museum and the Swedish Music Hall of Fame, of which Björn Ulvaeus is part owner. What makes the hotel unique is its strong connection to the operations that are housed in the building, namely exhibitions about Swedish pop music, the Swedish Music Hall of Fame and ABBA The Museum. The vision of a house of music in Stockholm/Sweden is now being ramped up thanks to the hotel’s new live-gig initiative, as well as new Swedish music-themed hotel rooms.

In the Duvemåla room, guests are greeted by a welcome letter from Björn Ulvaeus, which paints a picture of the arduous path of emigration, then and now.

The room breathes peace and tranquillity, with handpicked details and props. There is handmade wallpaper and handwoven rag-rugs. On the wall, framed in glass, hangs a dress from the 1995 musical. The terrace is enclosed by a genuine Swedish roundpole fence and guests can cosy up on a wooden bench that smells of good old-fashioned linseed oil, to enjoy the twilight hours. The mini-bar is found in a rustic-style nightstand and the TV is hidden behind a traditional Swedish pärlspånt panel, closed with a simple hook. The traveller’s trunk, rocking chair and sofa bed, all handcrafted in Sweden in the early 1900s, take you back to the period when Vilhelm Moberg’s The Emigrants unfolded. Featuring state-of-the-art comfort, the unique ambiance of the room is an exciting contrast to the hotel’s other spaces.

The ABBA Gold album was released in 1992, ten years after ABBA took a pause. Over 30 million copies of the album have been sold and it is considered one of ABBA’s major successes, as well as being one of the best-selling CDs of all time in the UK, the home of pop music. In collaboration with ABBA The Museum and as a tribute to the ABBA revival of the 90s seen all over the world, Pop House Hotel has transformed one of the junior suites into an ABBA Gold room. Overlooking one of Stockholm’s oldest entertainment establishments (Gröna Lund) and Saltsjön bay, guests can drift away into gilt-edged dreams and feel like pop star royalty. Perfect for key creative meetings, the room might well inspire new success stories. Designed in glittering gold and glossy black, with gold curtains and gold mirrors, the room also features an enormous Tom Dixon lamp adding an exclusive 
touch.

http://www.pophousehotel.se/#about 

https://www.facebook.com/pophousehotel?fref=ts

ABBA's Bjorn Ulvaeus On Stockholm

Stockholm has everything New York or London has but without the people and the traffic. Because it is built on islands and surrounded by water, you get this enormous sense of freedom. People don’t bother me at all, so I can walk around without any problem.

Naturally, I would recommend a visit to Abba the Museum. When they told me that it should be in Stockholm, that’s when it dawned on me – it’s going to be in a very prominent place that I will pass many times a year, with my children and grandchildren, and with friends. It had to be great, because I wouldn’t be able to escape it. That’s why I got involved. It’s a very hi-tech museum, but it also has warmth and humour. My favourite exhibit would have to be the homemade double bass from my first-ever group.

Stockholm is the most beautiful capital in the world. Visitors should take one of the sightseeing boats and see it from the water. They should also visit the Vasa Museum. It’s absolutely magnificent – a large 17th-century ship housed within a museum.

The Stockholm archipelago is unique, with tens of thousands of islands. It’s one of the most beautiful places in the world. I’ll often take my boat to Sandhamn, an island outside of Stockholm. There’s a restaurant there called Monrad’s where I like to have lunch. Actually, I’ll be going there soon with the new lady in my life. I’ve called her Dancing Queen and she’s a Princess 64 Flybridge yacht.

There are lots of outfits in the museum. I’m proud to say that most of my Abba costumes still fit me. I don’t have a favourite, but if I had to choose one it would be something from the later years. There’s a photo of me in a kind of Superman outfit from early on and I cry in pain every time I see it. It shows a level of bad taste unsurpassed by any other pop star.

I love the city’s food hall markets. Two of the best are Östermalmshallen and Hötorgshallen. My favourite restaurant is at Hotel Skeppsholmen, but the food I couldn’t do without is sashimi. I go to a great Japanese restaurant in the centre called Seikoen. There’s also a marina called Bullandö, just outside Stockholm, where I go to eat the best ice-cream in Europe – it’s called Bullandö Glassfabrik.

My favourite thing about Stockholm, and Sweden in general, is that it’s not overcrowded. There are only nine million of us Swedes, so we’re not overpopulated in the way many areas of Europe are.

People in Stockholm are quicker to adapt to change than in the rest of the country. It has become a very creative city – for music, fashion and computer games. It is a lot more cosmopolitan than it used to be, but I wouldn’t want it to grow much bigger.

When I get time off, I love to relax with my grandchildren – sailing, kayaking, reading, and watching movies and documentaries. I love to take them all on holiday with me.

Benny comes to Stockholm regularly so I see him quite a bit, especially since we still work together from time to time. Agnetha and I have children and grandchildren together, so I see her at birthday parties and such. Frida comes to Stockholm from her home in Switzerland every now and then, and she’ll say hello.

There are some great Swedish musicians around at the moment. I’ve been listening a lot to the Swedish band First Aid Kit. Their roots are in folk music and the same goes for me.

I don’t think I’ll be watching Eurovision this weekend. I rarely watch it these days. Not because it was better in the old days (it wasn’t), but because there are too many countries in the competition. And as a songwriter, I’d be more interested in a contest where the emphasis was on the quality of the song.

I love churches and there are a couple in the old city, such as the Storkyrkan, which I’d recommend visiting.

Another special exhibit at the Abba Museum is an award we were given which I had at home for years. It’s a hideously ugly German music award, a figurine in the form of Hiawatha called Silberne Otto. It was awarded to us by the German magazine Bravo and I kept it on my windowsill. Over time I grew rather fond of it and it was with a heavy heart that I gave it to the museum. Come to think of it, I miss my Silberne Otto.

During the Abba years, we did some television work in East Berlin. People there loved us but it was so depressing. I remember we were paid in whatever currency they had – East German marks or whatever – which you couldn’t change when you got to the west. Nobody would take it. I had one day to get rid of it, so I bought everyone in the bar a drink!

I only book holidays in winter. Why? Try a cold, windy and damp November day in Stockholm and you’ll know why!

http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2015/may/22/bjorn-ulvaeus-abba-stockholm-sweden-travel

Mamma Mia Themed Restaurant To Be Launched In Sweden by Bjorn Ulvaeus !

Swedish Abba legend Björn Ulvaeus has launched plans to create a restaurant attraction in Stockholm inspired by the musical Mamma Mia. The Local reports live from the press conference.

Ulvaeus' entertainment venue will be built as a Greek taverna and will be part restaurant, part stage show and part role play, where guests can be the stars of their own personal version of Mamma Mia! The Musical.
Abba fans will be greeted by waiting staff and actors playing the parts of the cast of the famous Abba musical as soon as they walk through the doors. They will be able to listen to music, eat Greek food, watch and, which will perhaps excite fans the most, take part in the show.
Mamma Mia! The Party is set to open on January 20th, 2016, at Gröna Lund, one of Stockholm's main tourist attractions.

The mysterious project sparked a global social media buzz when a website was launched last week, hinting at Ulvaeus' "new entertainment experiment", with some Abba fans hoping the project would spell a reunion for one of the world's most loved pop bands.
"That's probably not going to happen. Although, you never know..." Ulvaeus teasingly told reporters at a press conference on Wednesday.

Mamma Mia! the musical has been seen by 55 million people around the world since its debut in London in April 1999 and has been translated into 16 different language.
The movie version of the show featuring star actors Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Amanda Seyfried and Stellan Skarsgård was also a global smash hit.

More to follow.

http://www.thelocal.se/20150415/abba-themed-party-to-be-launched-in-sweden

From ABBA The Museum:

" We are so happy to launch next year's big tourist attraction, 'Mamma Mia The Party', together with Gröna Lund. Hopefully the first of many successful collaborations!

Tickets will be available from the 27th of August. Premiere date 20th of January 2016. Keep posted!"

 More to follow .......

Mamma Mia! The Party - The Local se - I'm Quoted !

Secret ABBA project stirs global social media buzz

A mysterious message from Abba legend Björn Ulvaeus promising a big announcement on Wednesday has sent fans into a frenzy around the internet – and not just in his native Sweden.

A website titled 'Mamma Mia! The party' emerged last week, with Swedish music composer Ulvaeus writing he had created a “new entertainment experiment that I will tell everyone about on Wednesday”.
Another message sent to Abba fans across the globe, signed by Ulvaeus, said: “I've been working on this experiment for quite a while now and it's actually starting to feel ready.”
The project's PR agents refused to tell The Local more when prompted. But the secrecy has not stopped fans from speculating. After all, a potential Abba reunion – which several of its former members have hinted at in the past – has been high on the list of fans' hopes ever since the group split up in the 1980s.

“I doubt it will be a reunion – and most serious fans would agree that will not happen. There has been a suggestion of a Mamma Mia themed dinner party for 100 people and then a performance. Sounds like fun, but only for the 100. I think we all hope it will be something all fans can enjoy – not just a select few,” Australian Abba fan Roxanne Dickson told The Local on Tuesday.
“Someone did suggest it could be a global Skype dinner party – can't imagine that would be it though!” she added.
Like many Abba fans, she remains emotional when talking about the group.
“I have been an Abba fan since 1975. They got under our skin, in our hearts and never left – impossible to say why. They were simply perfection and affected people of all ages. They were different, and had mass appeal. No other group ever affected me the way Abba did,” said Dickson.

Abba was formed by Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid 'Frida' Lyngstad in Stockholm in 1972. After winning the Eurovision Song Contest two years later with mega hit 'Waterloo', the band went on to become one of the most commercially successful acts in the history of pop music.
After the group's break-up, Fältskog and Lyngstad pursued solo careers with mixed success. Andersson and Ulvaeus went on to write music for the stage, including hit musical 'Mamma Mia!', which was turned into a feature film starring Meryl Streep and Sweden's own Stellan Skarsgård in 2008.

http://www.thelocal.se/20150414/secret-abba-project-stirs-global-social-media-frenzy

I didn't realize I was going to be quoted - although I should have known when asked questions by a journalist ! LOL

Frida On Stage To Present Award - Stockholm 2015 !

Anni-Frid Lyngstad handed out the award at the gala.
One of those ABBA shock!
Frida at the QX Gala in Stockholm 9 February 2015.

Anni-Frid Lyngstad shocked everyone when she got up on stage to award a prize for "Best gay / bi / trans".

- All of us have a value and is unique, she said at the scene.

It became a true ABBA shock when it was time to award the prize for "Best gay / bi / trans". Sissela Kyle came on stage and said mysteriously:

- Now all wondering - who are here to share the prize. If you listen carefully ...

Suddenly, you hear a voice singing the song "Fernando". Onto the scene slid Anni-Frid Lyngstad of ABBA. When the singer proved to the audience burst out in complete euphoria. It was to say the least love in the room that Lyngstad was received by, she was mildly taken by the response.

- What a terrific host, said Lyngstad.

 When she would award the prize as she held an impassioned for the equal value.

- Yes I sing all about liberty - "freedom". It must be part of every human right to live in peace, said Lyngstad when the applause and cheers lay for several minutes.

She continued:

- All of us have a value and is unique.

Something Lyngstad thought ought to get people to distance themselves from ideologies and streams of thought that makes a difference to people.

Glädjejublen continued after Lyngstads speech. Then she shared the prize for "Best gay / bi / trans".

- She is rappens Tarantino. A 176 centimeters tall power pussy, said Lyngstad.

The award went to rapper Silvana Imam who made an inflammatory speech against racism.

- But we LGBTQ people and heterosexual people driving a common struggle. And it's racism. OUT WITH racists

The crowd's cheers were not long in coming.

http://www.expressen.se/noje/anni-frid-lyngstad-delade-ut-pris-pa-galan/

Frida's Arrival ! :)

 

 

ABBA The Museum Friend's Day - Book Now !

Hurray, the tickets to our Friend's Day are just released!

For 100 SEK we ensure you a day of fun and unique activities, for all ABBA fans and friend's. We hope to see you all here!

Tickets (under the catergory NEWS): http://www.abbathemuseum.com/en/shop-en

"We will reveal our biggest attraction since opening!
"A never before exhibited costume from 1973.
"(Preview and pre-purchase of fine art photos never exhibited before, by Calvero.)
"A unique walk through inside the Polar Studio, with guide. Competition; one happy person will also get to sing in the original studio and microphone!
"Get your own ABBA The Museum backstage pass/Friends Card. The card will give you special offers and discounts.
"Premiere of our curator's audio guide. An ABBA The Museum tour in depth.
"Mingle and drinks

The fan day at the museum will start around 3 p.m but all visitors are welcome earlier as well. We will be able to offer good pricing on hotels nearby, such as Melody Hotel and Hasselbacken Scandic. Keep posted for updates. A warm welcome and we hope to see you here!

Aussie Wins Museum Choir Competition !

Our very own fellow Australian, Grace McCallum, has won ABBA The Museum's competition to become the final member of the ABBA The Museum Choir !
Grace will travel to Stockholm in April to perform at the Museum with the choir - in celebrations taking place for the 40th Anniversary of Waterloo.

Congratulations Grace !

Very proud that Australia will be represented during this most auspicious occasion in the history of ABBA and ABBA fandom.
Thank you Grace for putting yourself out there - and for being such a beautiful singer :)

Wishing you all the best in the upcoming weeks - and hope you are able to savour every magical moment of this journey.

Can't wait to see you performing with the choir in April !!

Go get 'em girl !

Aussie Aussie Aussie ......

https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?v=544052675707987&set=vb.247052962074628&type=2&theater